A paper that discusses the cognitive areas of psychology and neuroscience and the relation between mirror neurons and simulation theory.
For those not familiar with these topics, the paper begins by briefly providing the reader with definitions of neurons, mirror neurons, and simulation theory. Following these definitions, the writer then discusses in depth how the biology of mirror neurons relates to one of the most popular theories in the field of cognitive psychology, the simulation theory.
“Recently, an interesting set of neurons were discovered in monkeys, specifically in area F5 (which is part of the pre-motor cortex, one of the central regions for action-response) of the brain (R. et al., 1996; G. et al., 1996), which came to be known as mirror neurons. These neurons become activated both when a particular action is performed by the monkey itself or when the same action, performed by another individual (monkey or human), is observed. Grasping, holding, manipulating or tearing objects are the actions that, both when observed and executed, most frequently activate the mirror neurons. Mirror neurons appear to form a cortical circuitry, used in matching observations with the execution of goal-related motor actions.”